Charlie Update.

WHAT IS THAT DOG
DOING TO CHARLIE?!?

Troy couple help get tortoise back home
By Patrick M. O'Connell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Sep. 06 2007

CHESTERFIELD — Back in the cozy confines of his "tortoise sanctuary" on
Wednesday, Charlie munched on a piece of lettuce in between photo flashes and
welcome home wishes.

"It's Charlie!" kids and adults alike squealed, pointing at the 70-pound
sulcata tortoise that had been missing more than nine days from Petropolis, a
Chesterfield pet center.

He was found Wednesday in a grassy area just north of Edison Avenue, behind the
Chesterfield Commons. It was less than a half-mile from the pet center at 16830
Chesterfield Airport Road.

The animal was muddy but unhurt. He was contentedly chomping grass when
staffers arrived to retrieve him based on a call from passers-by.

"I thought he would be gone," said 7-year-old Alex Wall, whose dad works at the
center. Alex helped in many of the organized searches for the tortoise, prayed
for his safe return and was all smiles as he followed Charlie around the store.

"I think it's really cool" he's back, Alex said.

Mike and Carol Willard of Troy, Mo., spotted the animal from a passing car
about 3 p.m. They will receive the $1,000 reward offered for the creature's
safe return.

"Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a great big tortoise, and I
thought, 'Did I really see that? I'm not at the zoo,'" Carol Willard said.

The couple were aware of the hunt for Charlie, and drove to a nearby humane
society office to compare his picture on fliers with what they had seen.

Petropolis staff members estimate that Charlie, who can cover about a block and
a half in 15 minutes, never made it more than about two miles from the store.

Unfazed by the attention, colored balloons and "We Missed You. We're Glad
You're Home" banner, Charlie, as he does, began to walk around the store.

"It seems like old times," said Petropolis owner Paul Schifano, wearing a
"Where's Charlie?" T-shirt. "This is what Charlie does. This is his life. I'm
glad he hasn't tried to go outside yet."

But soon enough, Charlie, moving faster than you'd think, cruised past petting
kids, pet supplies and adoring staff members, then made his way to the front
door.

With a nudge of his leg and his shell, he pushed it open just as he apparently
did, unnoticed, on Aug. 27. This time, workers quickly hauled him back inside.

Schifano said he is looking into a global positioning tracker to attach to
Charlie's shell to make finding him easier in case he gets out again.

The pet center is planning a welcome home party at 6 p.m. today, when the Troy
couple will be handed the $1,000 reward.

Schifano said sliced apples and carrots, some of Charlie's favorites, might be
on the menu.




FOUND: Charlie the tortoise
By Patrick M. O'Connell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Sep. 05 2007

CHESTERFIELD -- Charlie the tortoise was found safe this afternoon, 10 days
after he walked away from a pet center on Chesterfield Airport Road.
Charlie, a 70-pound sulcata tortoise, was in a grassy area along Edison Avenue,
not far from Petropolis, the pet center he left Aug. 27.
The animal appeared to be unhurt, said Brad Watts of Petropolis, Charlie's home
for about a year and a half.
A couple driving in the area spotted the animal about 3 p.m., Watts said.

After checking a nearby missing tortoise flier to confirm the animal they saw
matched the picture of the missing creature, the couple drove back to Charlie's
location, called Petropolis, and waited for staffers to arrive.

Charlie was walking and eating grass when Watts and others with Petropolis met
the couple and the animal.

The couple will receive the $1,000 reward Petropolis posted for Charlie's
return.

Watts believes Charlie never made it more than about 2 miles away from the pet
center.